Simple Style

While the fallout from the current economic crisis is absolutely troubling, one friend who was recently laid off told me that her layoff has inspired her to live more simply. As she put it, the financial crunch has helped her to focus on what's truly important, such as spending time with family and friends, and working on her home craft business. Even though she no longer has money for much in the way of movies or extravagant dinners out, she's finding some unexpected pleasures in her new, simpler, frugal lifestyle.

Of course, if my friend were in danger of losing her home, she wouldn't be giving me such a sunny report. Luckily, she has enough savings (and a husband with a stable job) to see her through this rough patch. Can you report any surprising joys in this sea of financial bad news? How have you tried to live a simpler, less costly lifestyle?

If you need inspiration for living more simply, download this poster from ReadyMade. And if this one doesn't fit your aesthetic, there are four others to choose from.
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I love decorating with elements from nature, and this autumnal arrangement, from Better Homes and Gardens, fits the bill. For this simple display, a collection of rustic olive jars in various sizes are scattered on a worn wood console. Striking chestnut branches arch out of just one of the jars. Pretty by itself, the arrangement also makes a nice backdrop for a bowl offering party favors, such as this one: a little linen bag filled with potpourri and cinched with a satin ribbon.

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For Dress Your Walls month, I thought I'd repost some bright ideas I had earlier in the year that relate to this month's theme. It's sometimes hard to dig these up from the archives on your own, so I'm finding the best ones for you to save you the trouble. When I find any archived posts that are particularly helpful for this month's theme, I'll run them in addition to the regular posts I'm putting up each day.

Whether you have kids or you just like the idea of writing on the wall, chalkboard paint like this one from Rust-Oleum is a fun and funky way to liven up a wall, a cabinet, or any patch of blank space where you need to jot down notes.

Available in green or black — I love the green for its retro schoolroom feel — the paint turns any wall into a writable and erasable surface. Because it works on wood, metal, glass, and plastics, it's incredibly versatile. Paint a patch of it on your office wall, or resurface the front of your fridge.

Of course, it's great for kids' rooms, but rather than cover an entire wall, why not use this idea from Real Simple and create cool silhouette, such as a house- or tree-shaped chalkboard?

I love this coatrack from Amy and Jon's house, which was featured on Apartment Therapy. Made from salvaged antique doorknobs, it's such a cool, simple alternative to a coat tree. And watch out, Casa readers. I'll turn this into a DIY project for you in an upcoming post, so stay tuned!

A headboard can really be a great focal point for a bedroom, and just because you own a regular ol' bed doesn't mean it can't have a regal backdrop. So if you don't own a headboard, why not try painting one on?

I'm loving this idea from Point Click Home, and it would be very easy to recreate. Simply paint a block of color the width of the bed, and add a small stencil in another shade for a fun bit of detailing. Has anyone tried this at home? If so I'd love to hear about it.

Lots of companies sell magazine racks that resemble ladders, like this Chiasso Scooter Magazine Rack ($118). But for a touch of character, try making your own rack out of an antique ladder. Readily available online and at flea markets and antique stores, rustic ladders can be propped up against a wall to hold all sorts of things: Real Simple recommends using ladders as racks for towels, periodicals, and jewelry, and I also like this use of a rustic ladder to hold quilts.

I'm always tempted by those single sheets of wrapping paper you often find in fancy paper stores, but I don't really wrap enough gifts to justify buying all the paper I crave. That's why I love this project I spotted on Design Sponge: Blogger Grace livened up her closet door by filling the panels with some leftover gift wrap. This would be a fun way to get rid of scraps — or a great excuse to buy some of those papers I've been eyeing.

I'm always coming across porcelain glove molds in antiques stores, junk shops, and flea markets. These handy finds, originally used for making gloves, are very versatile accent pieces. You can use them to display jewelry and other trinkets, or screw them into the bathroom wall to serve as clever towel racks. Or, you can simply display them alongside other pottery, as in this home I saw featured on Apartment Therapy San Francisco.

This skateboard shelf would be just as easy to install as bracket shelving, but the unexpected surface — and its accompanying wheels — make it fun and edgy. I love how graphic designer Mathieu Hubert (via Poppytalk) uses it to display retro toys.

All you'd need to make it is an old skateboard and two shelf brackets, screwed into the board and affixed to the wall.

Incorporating natural elements into your decor — whether it's a houseplant or a woven grass rug — really adds life to a room. This charming tree-branch towel rack I spotted on Design*Sponge would be a really easy way to bring a touch of nature to your kitchen or bathroom. Just find a smooth piece of driftwood or sand down a stick you've scavenged and secure it to the wall with screws.